Accolades have continued to pour in as the former Managing Director of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Dr. Kingsley Usoh unveiled a book on effective transport systems in the country.
In an impressive ceremony in the auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, stakeholders in the maritime industry said Usoh has done well in putting his knowledge and experience in the transport sector of the economy into a book titled “Effective Transport Systems – A Catalyst for Nigeria’s Socio-economic Development”.
Not a few of the stakeholders in the maritime industry and beyond who gathered at NIIA to witness the unveiling of the book expressed delight that he did well in writing the book that has generated interest in the transport industry.
They specifically hailed the former NSC helmsman for not keeping his vast knowledge of transportation to himself as many public officers often do after their exit from power.
Usoh who has also written several books in the past on several aspects of the transport industry is regarded in several quarters as is regarded as someone that has the expertise and experience spanning decades in transportation in Nigeria.
Those who spoke include the former Managing Director of NSC and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Adebayo Sarumi; former Executive Secretary of NSC, NSC, Captain Adamu Biu; Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello; and the former Commissioner of Finance, Imo State, Mr. Chris Asoluka.
Usoh in his address at the occasion, said he tried to review the imperfections and complexities which our policy thrusts and actions have imposed on our transport systems.
Describing transport as one of the critical pillars of our socio-economic development, the erstwhile Managing Director of NSC stated that the narrowness of knowledge in this field of learning has made us apply “barber” conceptual disposition to ‘comb and cut’ without getting to the base where the hairs are rooted.
According to the author, this kind of approach often results in some superficial and shoddy jobs without solving the embedded problems of “dandruff and scabies”. The quick-fix faculty of the barbers whose behaviours are likened to the hireling attitude of our engineers, planners and administrators which leave us with unbalanced objectives and interests that only graze over existing problems and leave behind multiplicity of bigger unanswered questions created for the future generations to address.
He explained that the book has traced the sources of most of Nigeria’s transport problems on mode by mode basis.
His words: “I have tried to discuss all the envisaged shortcomings, hoping that my insight into them would help give us clues towards minimizing these man-made problems for better and healthier socio-economic enhancement that would trigger development and growth.
“I have used this book as an avenue to bring to the notice of all stakeholders, the momentous damage these man-made problems are fostering on our national lives and welfare. I continue to wonder what value we place on the average Nigerian life. Does it make economic sense or is it really rational to accommodate such wanton damage and allow it to continue to weigh down on our socio-economic gauge? Is it prudent to wave-off the misfortunes as culturally or religiously acceptable, believing that ‘destiny’ cause accidents? – No! It seems vulgar and immoral to defend the indefensible!”.
